Journal box lid with sealing and venting means therefor



Nov. 29, 1960 w. H. SALE Q 2,962,326:

JOURNAL B01; LID WITH SEALING AND VENTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLJAM $ALE W. H. SALE Nov. 29, 1960 JOURNAL BOX LID WITH SEALING AND VEN'IING MEANS THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14-, 1958 ATTY.

2,962,326 revam Box Ln) wrrn SEALING AND VENTING MEANS THEREFOR William H. Sale, Sandston, Van, assignor to Klasing Hand Brake (30., Joliet, Ill, a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 773,879

4 mantis. (Ci. 303-47) The present invention relates to journal boxes for the axles of railway car trucks and has particular reference to a novel means for sealing and venting the hinged cover of a journal box so that the cover fits tightly against the rim of the access opening of the journal box, while at the same time provision is made whereby vapors and gases originating within the journal box may be vented through the lid to the atmosphere through a sinuous path which is so designed as to preclude the entrance of dust, dirt or other foreign matter from entering the journal box.

The conventional hinged journal box cover is usually in the form of a rectangular metal plate carried on a hinge pin at one side of the rectangular journal box opening and capable of being swung from an open position wherein the plate bears directly against the rim of the opening and is spring-pressed against the latter. The closure plate proper, as well as the supporting arm by means of which it is connected to the hinge pin, are usually in the form of metal castings and as a consequence the assembly is fairly massive and heavy so that at times, when the train is in motion on the roadbed, the closure member is subject to rattling due to the direct metal-to-metal contact between the inner face of the closure plate proper and the rim of the opening. Furthermore, when the train is stationary, there is a tendency for the inspector or other trainman to slam the cover shut against the journal box opening, thus annoying the passengers. This situation is particularly prevalent in connection with journal boxes associated with the car trucks of Pullman cars in night service. Additionally, since the cover plates are invariably hinged on an offset pin so as to be capable of swinging movement bodily toward and away from the journal box opening, the presence of dirt or a foreign object on the rim of the opening, particularly on that side of the rim which is next adjacent to the hinge pin, will prevent seating of the cover plate on the rim of the opening, so that the opening is in fact not sealed with the cover plate re maining completely out of contact with the rim of the opening. Under such conditions not only is the journal box subject to the ingress of dirt, dust or other foreign material but the same is subject to rattling as outlined above.

Another limitation that is attendant upon the construction and use of conventional hinged journal box covers resides in the provision of means for adequately venting the interior of the journal box to the atmosphere so that gases, vapors and the like originating within the journal box may be vented to the atmosphere. Ordinarily, where the journal box lid is designed for sealing engagement with the rim of the journal box opening and consideration is given to venting of the box, such venting is usually accomplished simply by the provision of one or more venting openings which are drilled through the journal box lid at an appropriate point or points thereon. If these openings are relatively small the danger of clogging thereof arises whereas, if the openings are of appreciable size, the journal box is subject to the entrance 2,962,326 Patented Nov. 29, 196Q 2 of dirt, dust and other foreign matter through the open- -1ngs.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-noted limitations that are attendant upon the construction and use of conventional journal box lids or covers and, toward this end, it contemplates the provision of a novel and improved form of sealing means whereby, when the cover is swung to its closed position, it will at all times sealingly engage the entire rim of the journal box opening in such a manner that rattling of the journal box cover is effectively prevented, while at the same time no dirt or other foreign matter may enter the journal box around the sides of the journal box lid. The invention further contemplates the provision of a novel venting means wherein the venting opening provided in the journal box lid is of appreciable size so that adequate venting facilities are afforded yet wherein this opening is effectively shielded so that dirt or other foreign material, however fine the same may be, is prevented from reaching the venting opening for subsequent entrance into the journal box therethrough.

The provision of a journal box lid structure of the character briefly outlined above being among the principal objects of the invention a further object of the invention is to provide a cover of this sort wherein the sealing means is capable of being easily repl ced when the same has become worn or otherwise has lost its effectiveness. In carrying out this last-mentioned object, the invention contemplates the provision of a novel form of sealing gasket, together with cooperating retaining means therefor on the cover plate proper where-by the gasket may be received over the cover plate and maintained in its proper sealing position relative to the rim of the journal box opening, the cooperating retaining means on the gasket and cover plate being such that replacement of the gasket may be manually effected by the simple expedient of pulling the gasket away from the cover plate and applying a new gasket to the cover plate by a reversal of the procedure, namely by pushing the new gasket into its operative position manually.

A further object of the invention, in a journal box cover of this character, is to provide a novel form of sealing gasket and a cooperating retention means therefor on the cover plate proper wherein the retention means is fixed and possesses no moving parts, thereby resulting in a structure which cannot get out of order and which requires no manipulation for gaskets removal or installation purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel sealing means for journal box covers including a sealing gasket and retaining means therefor wherein the gasket is capable of being applied to and removed from the journal box cover while the latter is in position on the journal box and without necessitating removal of the cover from its installed or hinged position on the journal box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel venting means for journal box covers in the form of a breather device having associated therewith a dirt trap which, although it will allow escape of vapors and gases from the interior of the box to the atmosphere will preclude the entrance of dirt into the interior of the box through the venting passage.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional view taken substantially centrally and longitudinally through a railway car journal hox having associated therewith the improved sealing and venting means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the journal box cover plate proper showing a sealing gasket employed in connection with the present invention operatively applied thereto; i

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 showing the sealing gasket removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an inside perspective view of a journal box lid hinge arm employed in connection with the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is an outside perspective view of the cover plate proper showing the hinge arm of Fig. 5 operatively applied thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to Figs. 1 and 6, ajournal box cover assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is designated in its entirety at 10 and is shown as being operatively applied to a journal box 12 associated with the wheel axle 14 of a railway car truck. A journal bearing or brass 16 overlies the axle journal 14 and a wedge member 18 is interposed between the bearing member 16 and the top of the journal box 12, the bearing member 16 and wedge member 18 being of conventional design. The journal box 12 is of standard construction and is shown herein as being integrally cast with an end portion 211 of a truck side frame. The outer end of the journal box 12 is provided with a rectangular access-opening 21 which is bounded by an inclined rectangular rim 22 against which a portion of the closure assembly 10 is adapted to seat when the latter is in its closed position on the journal box.

The closure assembly 10 is comprised of two principal parts including a closure plate proper 24 and a hinge arm 26. The assembly further includes a clamping plate or strap 28 by means of which the closure plate 24 and hinge arm 26 are secured together, clamping rivets 30 for the clamping strap, a closure-biasing spring 32, a spring tensioning pin 34, and a hinge pin 36 by means of which the cover as a whole is pivotally connected to the journal box 13.

The closure plate 24 is generally of rectangular configuration to conform to the configuration of the rim 22 and, as best seen in Fig. 3 it includes a substantially flat closure wall 40 which is bounded by a depending marginal rim flange 42 which is relieved as at 44 for clearance purposes as will be made clear subsequently. The closure wall 40 is formed with a rectangular strengthening rib 46 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) which is spaced inwardly from the marginal flange 42, the rib 46 being continuous. A manipulating ear or lifting flange 48 is formed on the flange 42 on the distal edge of the closure plate. The hinge arm 26 fits against the outer side of the closure plate 24 as shown in Fig. 6 and it is in the form of an irregular shaped casting of generally cup shaped configuration. The hinge arm 26 may roughly be described as having a proximate end region providing a relatively deep spring-enclosing pocket 50 (Fig. 5) and a distal end region which is bifurcated to provide a pair of parallel arms 52 connected together by an anchoring web 54. The arms 52 are generally channel shape in transverse cross section. The spring-enclosing pocket 50 is provided with side walls 56 having formed thereon tubular enlargements 58 which are strengthened by webs 61B and which are formed with axially aligned bores 62 which receive therethrough the hinge pin 36. The pocket side walls 56 are further formed with a pair of axially aligned relatively small holes 64 which receive therein the opposite ends of the spring tensioning pin 34.

The closure-biasing spring 32 is wound to provide a helix 66 which is interrupted in its medial regions by an offset loop 68 carrying a roller 70 at the loopbend. The opposite ends of the helix terminate in elongated fingers 72. The hinge arm is assembled upon the closure plate and is retained thereon by means of the clamping strap 28 which is secured by the bolts '30 which are threadedly received in the closure wall 40. With the hinge arm in position on the closure plate, the spring fingers 72 bear against the outer side of the closure wall 40 while the loop 68 is biased against the tensioning pin 34 with a considerable degree of force. As shown in Fig. 1, a lug formed on the journal box 10 serves to carry the hinge pin 36. When the closure plate assembly including the hinge arm 26 is operatively positioned on the journal box, the roller 70 has selective cooperation with a pair of angular faces 82 and 84 respectively on the lug 80 for maintaining the closure plate assembly in either its fully open or its fully closed position.

In the assembled structure, the channel shaped arms 52 overlie the side of the rectangular rib 46 in the proximate region of the closure plate proper 24 so that there is a clearance space between the hinge arm and closure plate at all regions along the hinge arm except at the extreme forward end of the bifurcations 52 and in the vicinity of a pair of shoulders 86 (Fig. 5) where the hinge arm seats on the closure plate proper. Triangular gussets or strengthening webs 84 (Fig. 6) on the outside face of the hinge arm 26 serve to reinforce the bifurcations 52.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the rectangular rib 46, in combination with the marginal flange 42 define therebetween a continuous marginal trough 88 having a flat bottom wall 90 which provides a seat for the marginal regions of a resilient sealing gasket 92. The sealing gasket 92 is comprised of a relatively thick rectangular sheet of a suitable elastomeric material, as for example rubber, either natural or synthetic, or a rubber substitute, the dimensions of the gasket being such that the gasket will fit closely within the confines of the marginal rectangular flange 42 on the cover plate 24 with the inside face of the gasket abutting the crest portion of the rectangular rib 46 as shown in Fig. 2. In order to removably retain the gasket in position on the inside face of the cover plate 24, a series of anchoring posts 94 are formed on the cover plate closure wall 40 at widely distributed points on the inside face of the wall, all of the posts being disposed within the rectan gular confines of the trough 88. In the exemplary form of the invention illustrated in generally circular fashion on the closure wall 40 with the posts being formed or seated on the crest portion of the rectangular rib 46 at points where the circle intersects the rectangle. Each post 94 includes a base stem portion 96 and a distal frusto-conical head portion 98 providing an inwardly facing annular shoulder 160. The posts 94 are designed for cooperation with a series of holes 102, one for each post, which are punched in the sealing gasket 92 for maintaining the gasket in position within the rectangular confines of the flange 42 of the cover plate 24. When the gasket is in its operative position, the posts 94 project through their respective holes 102 and the head portions 98 assume positions on the inside face of the gasket, i.e. the face thereof which opposes the rectangular journal box opening 21, with the shoulder 100 overlying the inside face of the gasket and serving to hold the gasket flat against the crest portion of the rectangular rib 46.

As best seen in Fig. 1, when the journal box lid or cover 10 is in its closed position over the opening 21, the rim 22 of the opening bears against the marginal regions of the sealing gasket 92 and forces the same into the marginal trough 88 and against the bottom wall 90 of the trough with sufficient pressure to effectively seal the rim 22 of the opening 21, the necessary pressure being developed by the gravitational weight of the journal lid 10 as a whole, as well as by the force exerted by the spring 32. It is to be noted at this point that during travel of the railway car upon the roadbed, if sudden shock of vibration is encountered of sufficieut magnitude as to cause the lid to raise from its seat on the rim 22, the marginal regions of the gasket 92 will flex and follow the contour of the rim 22 so that at no time is the seal between the gasket and rim broken.

In applying the sealing gasket 92 to the cover plate 24, it is merely necessary to align the various holes 102 with the small bases of the frusto-conical head portions 98 of the posts 94 and to thereafter push the gasket toward the closure wall 40* so that the head portions 98 will penetrate and push their way through the holes 102, so to speak, by a camming action, after which the rims of the holes will snap into position behind the shoulders 100. At the same time, the shield 116 will pass partially through the opening 128 and the rim of the opening will register with the open ends of the tubular nipples 124 as shown in Fig. 4. Removal of the gasket from the cover plate 24 for purposes of inspection or replacement may be effected simply by pulling the gasket from its position on the closure wall 40. Due to the fact that the gasket 92 is formed of resilient elastomeric material, this material will stretch to a degree sufiicient to allow the holes 102 to become elongated so that they will slip over the frusto-conical heads 98 of the posts 94.

According to the present invention, means are provided for venting the interior of the journal box 10 to the atmosphere in such a manner that any gases or vapors which may accumulate within the box may escape while at the same time the entrance of dirt or other foreign matter into the box will be precluded. Accordingly, at a region within the confines of the rectangular rib 46 and adjacent the proximate side of the cover plate 24, the closure wall 40 is formed with an opening 110 in which there is secured as by welding 112 a generally cylindrical open-ended tubular breather nipple 114. The nipple preferably projects equally outwardly from the opposite sides of the closure wall 40 as best seen in Fig. 4 and has its axis normal to the plane of the closure wall. The ends of the nipple are outwardly flanged as at 115. On the inside of the closure wall 40 a generally cup-shaped shield 116 has its rim portion welded as at 118 to the wall. The shield 116 is generally rectangular in transverse cross section as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and includes a pair of opposed side walls 120 having openings 122 formed therein and in which openings there are welded respective tubular nipples 124, the latter being in axial alignment. The nipples 124 project outwardly from both faces of the walls 120 and each nipple is spaced a slight distance above the plane of the bottom wall 126 of the shield as seen in Fig. 4. The gasket 92 is formed with a generally rectangular opening 128 therein through which the shield 116 projects as best seen in Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the hinge arm 26 carries on the inside face thereof an open, generally cupshaped shield 130, the latter having a bottom wall 132 which is welded as at 133 to the rim portion of the springenclosing pocket 50 with said bottom wall extending a short distance into the void existing between the two parallel arms 52 of the hinge arm. The shield 130 is generally rectangular in transverse cross section and is provided with a front wall 132 of small height, a rear wall 134 of appreciably greater height, and side walls 136 having stepped edges 138'. When the hinge arm 26 is operatively installed on the cover plate 24, the shield 130 encloses the outside portion of the tubular nipple 114 as shown in Fig. 4 while the stepped edges 138 of the shield 130 afford a substantial clearance between the shield and closure wall 40.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the venting arrangement described above will permit any vapors or gases which may accumulate within the journal box 10 to escape to the atmosphere by following the tortuous path indicated by the arrows in this view, the material entering the tubular nipples 124 and passing to the interior of the shield 116 6 from whence it may pass through the nipple 114 to the interior of the shield and thereafter escape to the atmosphere by passing Outwardly around thestepped rim 138 of the shield and outwardly around the edge regions of the spring-enclosing pocket 50 of the hinge arin 26. The two shields 116 and 130 constitute, in effect, traps which will effectively exclude the entrance of foreign material into the interior of the journal box through the tortuous path provided for the escape of gases.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and changes in the form and details of the journal box lid illustrated, and in its operation, may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit .of .the invention. For example, while the shields 1. .6 and 113 have been illustrated and described herein as being independently formed elements, these shields, may, if desired, be integrally cast with the closure plate proper 24 and hinge arm 26 respectively. In such case the shield assembly 116 with its tubular nipple insert 114 will of itself be of integral construction. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A journal box cover plate for closing the accessopening of a journal box, said cover plate having a flat substantially rectangular closure wall provided with a depending marginal rim flange and an inwardly projecting continuous closed rectangular rib spaced from the rim flange and defining, in combination with the latter and with the closure wall, a marginal rectangular rim channel having a flat channel bottom designed for register with the rim of said access opening when the cover plate is in closed position over said opening, a normally flat generally rectangular sealing gasket formed of elastomeric material of a size conforming to the side of said marginal rim flange removably secured to the inside face of said cover plate and having its outer marginal regions overlying and normally spaced from the bottom of said rim channel, a plurality of upstanding posts formed on said marginal rib, said posts having enlarged heads at the distal ends thereof which are connected to said rib by restricted stern portions, said sealing gasket being formed with a series of holes through which said posts project with the heads of the posts overlying said gasket and serving to compress the adjacent marginal regions of the holes against said rib, said posts being spaced apart and lying substantially on a circle-intersection with said rib, said rectangular sealing gasket being substantially imperforate except for the provision of said holes whereby a broad expanse of the gasket extends across the rectangular rib within the closed confines thereof and spaced from the closure wall with the marginal regions of the gasket normally overhanging the rectangular rib exteriorly of the confines thereof and spaced from the bottom of the channel, the rim of said access opening bearing against the overhanging marginal portion of the gasket when the cover plate is closed on the access opening and serving to flex said overhanging marginal portion out of the normal plane of the gasket and force the same against the bottom of the channel.

2. A journal box cover plate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head portions of the posts are frusto-conical in contour with the small bases thereof presented outward y of the distal ends of the posts, the large bases of the frusto-conical heads defining rearwardly facing shoulders against which the outer face of the sealing gasket bears when the latter is installed on the cover plate.

3. A journal box cover plate for closing the accessopening of a journal box, said cover plate having a fiat closure wall provided with a marginal sealing gasket desi ned for sealing engagement with the rim of the accessopening when the cover plate is in a 'closed position over the opening, there being a hole in said cover plate in the medial regions thereof, an open-ended tubular nipple projecting through and sealingly secured in said hole, the opposite open ends of said nipple being oifset in opposite directions an appreciable distance from the plane of the closure wall, and a cup-shaped shield secured to said cover plate on each side thereof and at least partially embracing one open end of said nipple.

4. A journal box cover plate for closing the accessopening of a journal box, said cover plate having a flat closure wall provided with a marginal sealing gasket designed for sealing engagement with the rim of the access-opening when the cover plate is in its closed position over the opening, there being a hole in said cover plate in the medial regions thereof, an open-ended tubular nipple projecting through and sealingly secured in said hole, the opposite ends of said nipple being offset in opposite directions an appreciable distance from the plane of the closure wall, a cup-shaped shield secured to said cover plate on each side thereof and at least partially embracing one open end of said nipple, one of the shields being provided with a side wall having an opening therethrough in the medial regions thereof, and a second open-ended tubular nipple sealingly secured in said shield side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 538,258 Irvin Apr. 30, 1895 2,209,403 Kittner et a1. July 30, 1940 2,642,319 Buckius June 16, 1953 2,743,968 Christensen et al. May 1, 1956 2,859,072 Sale Nov. 4, 1958 

